Directors Guild Awards 2026: Paul Thomas Anderson Bags Best Director For One Battle After Another, Check FULL Winners List

The awards season kicked off in Hollywood last month, with red carpets rolled out at grand venues for the crème de la crème of the industry. Ahead of the 2026 Oscars, the 78th annual Directors Guild Awards were held in Beverly Hills on Saturday, February 8. Widely viewed as one of the most reliable predictors of the Academy Awards, the ceremony saw Paul Thomas Anderson being named Best Director of 2025 for his latest film, One Battle After Another starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The evening also featured special honours for David Charles and Gregory McCollum, while legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg received multiple tributes from peers and presenters worldwide.Check out the full list of winners here:Outstanding Directorial Achievement In THEATRICAL

FEATURE FILMPaul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After AnotherMichael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time THEATRICAL FEATURE Charlie Polinger - The PlagueOutstanding Directorial Achievement In DOCUMENTARY FILMMstyslav Chernov - 2000 Meters to AndriivkaOutstanding Directorial Achievement In DRAMATIC SERIESAmanda Marsalis - The Pitt, 6:00 P.M.Outstanding Directorial Achievement In COMEDY SERIESSeth Rogen & Evan Goldberg - The Studio, The OnerOutstanding Directorial Achievement In LIMITED & ANTHOLOGY SERIESShannon Murphy - Dying for Sex, It’s Not That SeriousOutstanding Directorial Achievement In MOVIES FOR TELEVISIONStephen Chbosky - NonnasOutstanding Directorial Achievement In VARIETY SERIESLiz Patrick - SNL50: The Anniversary SpecialOutstanding Directorial Achievement In SPORTSMatthew Gangl - 2025 World Series, Game 7 – Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue JaysOutstanding Directorial Achievement In REALITY, QUIZ AND GAMEMike Sweeney - Conan O’Brien Must Go, AustriaOutstanding Directorial Achievement In DOCUMENTARY SERIES Or NEWSRebecca Miller - Mr Scorsese, All This Filming Isn’t HealthyOutstanding Directorial Achievement In COMMERCIALSKim Gehrig (Somesuch) - You Can’t Win. So Win, Nike | Wieden+Kennedy

Oscars 2026 Prediction

The Directors Guild Awards have a strong predictive track record. In the last 77 years of its history, the winner has failed to convert the DGA honour into an Oscar victory only eight times. Interestingly, in three of those cases, the DGA-winning film still went on to secure the Academy Award for major categories.Paul Thomas Anderson clinching the top directing honour at the 2025 Directors Guild Awards for One Battle After Another has made him a clear frontrunner for the Oscars and strengthened the film’s awards-season momentum.Comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani hosted the ceremony. DGA president Christopher Nolan gave an opening speech at the award show. "We are the best at what we do. We are the storytellers. We are the people who have to innovate," he said.Stay tuned for more such stuff!